FDA finds contaminants in weight-loss pills

If you're tempted by the range of weight-loss products on shelves and online during the holiday season, beware. The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning on more than 25 products marketed for weight loss. Some of the products claim to be “natural” or to contain only “herbal” ingredients, but actually contain potentially harmful ingredients not listed on the product labels. The FDA's analysis found ingredients including sibutramine (a controlled substance and the active ingredient in the prescription drug Meridia), rimonabant (a drug not approved for marketing in the United States), phenytoin (an anti-seizure medication) and phenolphthalein (a chemical solution and laxative used in experiments and a suspected cancer-causing agent).

If you've been taking any of the products listed, The FDA advises you to stop doing so and see a healthcare professional. Read more in its online Q&A.

We've written in the past on false claims of some diet pills and the need for consumers to be wary of labels and sensational claims of rapid weight loss. For some better weight-loss options, we’ll tell you what diets actually work.